What God told me about Benue before 2015 - Ortom

Written By Idoma Television on Sunday, July 2, 2017 | 1:04:00 AM

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, has disclosed that, he would not seek for a re-election in 2019, until he heard from God, to do so.

This was even as, he expressed optimism that, no one could stop him from becoming the executive Governor of Benue State in 2019, if God asked him to seek re-election.

Apparently
reacting to calls from youth groups and some stakeholders, asking him
to contest for a second term, Governor Ortom said, whatever becomes of
his ambition in 2019 was in the hand of God, adding that, it was God who
asked him to contest in the first place.

He said God had shown him a vision in 1992 that he was going to be a Governor in Benue State, which became manifested 23 years after.

"I saw vision in 1992 and God asked me to go and become the Governor of Benue State. I attempted to become Governor in 2012 but it was not possible until in 2015 when God said it was time.

"If
God directs me that I should go for a second term, no one can stop me.
But if God has not spoken, I won't re-contest", he said.

He,
however, described as "distraction", the pressure from some quarters
for his re-election, saying he was barely 2 years in office and the
development of the state was his utmost priority.

Talking about his achievements so far in 2 years in office, the Governor said, "one of the achievements of this government is that, we have been able to curb insecurity.

"Before
we came in, there were insecurity here and there - kidnapping, robbery,
cultism and all that; but through our amnesty programme, over 900
criminals surrendered their weapons and we are now living in peace".

The
Governor said, in addition to the plastic industry and cassava
processing plants, his government also concession the Otukpo burnt brick
to a foreign company, waiting their arrival; adding that, arrangements
were also underway to revamp the Igumale Cement Company.

On
the implementation of the Anti Grazing and Anti Cultism Law recently
passed by the State Assembly, Governor Ortom said, machineries were
already in place to ensure herdsmen and others obey the law, vowing that
those caught violating the law would be sanctioned.

Ortom said, "there shall be special guards to support security agencies and the local vigilante group shall also support them".

He
said, more cell facilities were being constructed at the Makurdi
Prisons and as from November 2017, any one who breaks the law shall be
thrown into the prison, after conviction.

The
Governor assured the herdsmen and those interested in ranching, that
the state would provide land and adequate security for them, calling on
the federal government to also give subsidy to help the ranching policy
and encourage those participating in it.

While
answering questions on the recently flagged off yam exportation to
Europe, the Governor said the initiative would provide job opportunities
to teeming graduates in Benue, in areas of production, packaging and marketing.

He allayed the fears that there would be shortage of food if the exportation continues, adding that, Benue
currently contributes about 46% of total yam production in Nigeria and
with the recent development, the production would increase to over 60%.

Ortom,
in his response to the ongoing ASUU strike at the state owned
university, said the government was already talking with the striking
lecturers and that the industrial action would soon come to an end.

The
Governor, however, expressed displeasure over the conduct of the
lecturers. According to him, "their grudge is about the 6 years
accumulated allowances by the past administration. They were on strike
before we came in, and we had to intervene before they resumed work".

He
said, despite the meagre resources available to him, every month he
coughs out the sum of N570m to the institution, whereas, Ebonyi State
University gets only N200m from the government, while Nasarawa State
University gets just N180m monthly from the state government.

On
the issue of non payment of salaries to workers in the state, the
Governor said, he was able to control the payment, by paying one full
month salary within two months, based on the understanding his government had with the various union groups in the state.

Despite
what he described as "shortfall in allocations and IGR", the Governor
said he was able to manage the payment of salaries so that workers won't
embark on strike.

He said the government now owes local government workers 8 months and state workers 6 months.

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